Iowa state university will provide accessible, user-friendly biosecurity and foreign animal disease resources to niche, non-traditional, and small-scale livestock and poultry producers

Iowa State University will develop and deliver accessible biosecurity and foreign animal disease (FAD) prevention resources tailored specifically for niche, non-traditional, and small-scale livestock and poultry producers under a Cooperative Agreement funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) through the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025). The $334,754 award, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027, will produce practical biosecurity planning materials and training protocols customized for small and specialty producers, accompanied by a broad outreach and promotion campaign conducted in partnership with livestock producer organizations and agricultural extension services. Performance will be conducted at Iowa State University's Ames, Iowa facility.

In coordination with The Livestock Conservancy Inc. as a sub-awardee (awarded November 24, 2025), the project will deliver multiple knowledge-transfer products including webinar training for purebred seedstock producers and breed organizations, presentations at three or more small producer conferences, published articles in national agricultural media outlets, dedicated web content for heritage livestock biosecurity resources, and coordinated outreach through partner networks and breed associations. These deliverables are designed to increase understanding of FAD prevention, preparedness, and response activities among small-scale producers who have historically had limited access to biosecurity guidance tailored to their operational scale and production models.

These resources will cover biosecurity planning and will increase understanding of foreign animal disease (FAD) prevention, preparedness, and response activities within this target audience. This project will make general biosecurity protocol trainings more relevant to small and niche producers. The project includes a broad outreach and promotion campaign conducted in partnership with livestock producer organizations and agriculture extension services. Small-scale and niche livestock producers will directly benefit from this project by gaining practical information to help them prevent and prepare for animal disease outbreaks.